Volume 2 – 4. A Scholar’s Proposal
“I'll excuse myself.”
Realizing Fauli had no objection to speaking with Lucien alone, Lynn offered them both a small nod before quietly stepping out of the room and closing the door behind her.
The moment they were alone, Lucien decided not to waste time.
“If possible,” he began, “I'd like to ask what you know about the Eclipse, the original source of humanity's creation myth... and the Planars.”
At that, Fauli's expression showed a hint of genuine interest.
She adjusted the monocle over her eye and regarded him more carefully than before.
“And why,” she asked, “are you interested in those particular subjects?”
Lucien smiled awkwardly.
“Would it be enough if I said I'm looking for answers to a problem I'm dealing with... one that won't harm anyone else?”
He remembered what Lynn had told him.
She can tell when people are lying.
Lucien wasn't sure whether that was merely a reputation or something literal. Aléthris' domain encompassed revelation and the uncovering of falsehoods. Normally, abilities related to it required prayers or a direct blessing from the god—something exceedingly rare—but he couldn't shake the suspicion that the monocle Fauli wore was some kind of Weave Instrument imbued with Aléthris' authority.
Either way, lying seemed like a terrible idea.
Fauli held his gaze for several seconds before letting out a quiet hum.
“I appreciate your honesty,” she said, resting her chin lightly against one hand. “But to be perfectly honest, I consider charging you for the information.”
The faintest hint of amusement touched her lips.
“You're still an Inferni, after all. Ah, and not because of prejudice,” she added matter-of-factly before he could misunderstand. “Your blood simply makes you unusually valuable for expeditions into areas with high Corruption. From a practical standpoint, cultivating a good relationship with someone like you would be a worthwhile investment.”
She paused briefly, then continued in the same even tone.
“On the other hand, the Seven Revelations instruct those who follow Aléthris to share knowledge with anyone who sincerely seeks it.” Tilting her head ever so slightly, she looked at him over the rim of her monocle. “So tell me, Lucien—which do you think should take precedence?”
Lucien pressed his lips into a thin line, clearly dissatisfied, but after a moment he let out a slow breath and forced himself to relax.
“And how valuable could that knowledge really be?” he asked. “If it came down to it, I could always ask someone else... or go straight to Gregorius.”
Being valued because of his Inferni blood wasn't anything new. If anything, it usually worked in his favor—as long as people were willing to pay for it.
“You certainly could,” Fauli replied without taking offense. “You'd learn the common understanding well enough. I simply doubt you'd receive anything particularly comprehensive.”
There was no arrogance in her voice, only quiet confidence.
“As far as Temple Vigil is concerned—and, for that matter, every district outside Dawn Bastion in the north—I'm fairly certain I'm the most knowledgeable Illuminator on all three subjects you mentioned. Most Illuminators relocated to Dawn Bastion after the Eclipse.”
She paused briefly before adding,
“And while Gregorius may seem kind and easygoing, don't let that mislead you. Whenever an opportunity arises to improve Temple Vigil's rather precarious circumstances, he can be surprisingly calculating.”
Lucien couldn't really argue with that.
His first impression of Gregorius had been so favorable that he'd found himself speaking to the old priest more casually than someone of his position normally warranted.
He let out another quiet sigh through his nose.
“Alright, then what do you want?” he asked, no longer bothering with formalities. “And how am I supposed to know whatever you're offering is worth the effort?”
A faint smile finally appeared on Fauli's face.
“My request is quite simple. I want you to bring me a Starveil Bloom from the Riverfork Region.”
She reached for a sheet of paper and sketched a quick illustration with practiced strokes before sliding it across the desk.
“The flower has pale silver petals that become almost transparent under moonlight, while its roots glow faintly blue when freshly unearthed. It grows almost exclusively along riverbanks where the boundary between the Material Plane and either the Wild Hunt of Feywild or the Yielding Deep is particularly thin.”
Lucien studied the sketch in silence.
“It must be pulled out with the roots intact,” Fauli continued. “Don't cut the stem. The root system is the part I need for my research.” She gave a small wave of her hand. “Don't worry, though. It's no larger than an ordinary wildflower.”
“What kind of research?”
Something in Fauli's expression brightened. It wasn't dramatic, but the reserved scholar suddenly seemed a touch more animated.
“The Starveil Bloom gradually absorbs minute traces of planar resonance throughout its lifetime,” she said, her fingers lightly tapping the edge of the desk as she spoke. “I'm investigating whether those residual traces can be used to identify, stabilize, or even temporarily attune a person to those Planars without requiring significant resources.”
She adjusted her monocle and regarded him steadily.
“If my hypothesis is correct, I'll gladly share everything I discover with you.”
A confident smile touched her lips.
“With sufficient progress, you might even be able to apply that knowledge yourself... and visit one of the Planars someday.”
“Well... I'm not so sure about visiting one.”
Lucien answered with an awkward smile.
From everything he'd heard, the Planars sounded less like destinations and more like places people vanished into. You could lose your way for years, become trapped with no obvious route back, or, in certain regions, even emerge decades into the future. He didn't even know how many major planars existed, let alone what awaited inside them.
Unless he stumbled into one by accident, he had no intention of going anywhere near them.
Fauli watched him for a moment before asking,
“But if the reward proves worthwhile, are you willing to accept the request?”
Lucien gave a small nod.
“I can do that.”
The Riverfork Region lay southwest of Vel'Sharim, a vast temperate forest he'd explored several times before. It certainly wasn't safe—Corrupted beasts roamed the area—but he was familiar enough with its terrain to avoid the worst of the dangers.
Fauli nodded once.
“Very well. I'll prepare the contract, and you can decide for yourself whether the reward justifies the effort.”
***
By the time Lucien stepped out of Fauli's office, the agreement had already been signed.
In exchange for retrieving the Starveil Bloom, she would provide a full Corruption treatment free of charge, a Weave Instrument she believed would suit him, and the knowledge he had originally come to seek.
Not a bad deal.
With that thought lingering in the back of his mind, he started toward the stairs.
He had barely taken a few steps when he spotted Sylphie and Kira descending from the rooftop together.
“You're finished already?” Lucien asked, a hint of surprise in his voice.
He didn’t take that long discussing things with Fauli.
Sylphie greeted him with a small smile and nodded.
“Yes. We thought we'd head home early so we can prepare.”
“Prepare?” Lucien raised an eyebrow. “For what?”
“Father Gregorius asked the two of us to travel to the Riverfork Region,” Kira replied, hooking a thumb over his shoulder. “We need to gather medicinal herbs, seedlings, and a few other plants for the rooftop garden.” He stretched his shoulders with a tired groan. “We figured we'd rest after everything that happened today and leave tomorrow.”
Lucien blinked, then immediately changed direction to join them as they headed downstairs.
“Well... that's convenient.”
The two of them looked at him.
“I've got business in the Riverfork Region too.”
“Really?” Sylphie's eyes widened slightly in surprise.
Lucien nodded and gave them a brief summary of his conversation with Fauli, deliberately leaving out on what questions he had asked her.
“So we can travel together tomorrow.” Kira broke into an eager grin, his tail swishing behind him. “I wasn't raised in a forest myself, but I know my way around one well enough. Besides, it'll be nice to get out again after staying in the city for so long.” He clapped his hands together enthusiastically. “Let's make sure we're fully prepared before we leave.”
Both Lucien and Sylphie smiled at his infectious enthusiasm.
Lucien already had his own plans for the morning. He needed to buy a proper set of armor and stop by the dwarven blacksmith Edric had introduced him to in order to pick up the weapon commissioned from the Spider Hollow's materials.
As they continued down the stairs, he glanced at Sylphie.
“So,” he said, “what was the reason you wanted me to come with you today?”
She lowered her eyes for a moment before answering honestly.
“I simply wanted to get to know you better.” A faint, embarrassed smile crossed her face. “At first, I thought I might ask you to help some of the people in Temple Vigil so I could see how you'd react... but I don't think that's necessary anymore.”
“Huh. Why not?”
Lucien wasn't particularly surprised. He had already suspected that her reason for approaching him was to deepen their relationship for the sake of treating her Corruption.
Sylphie met his eyes, her smile growing a little warmer.
“I spoke with Father Gregorius,” she said softly. “He told me about how often you've helped Temple Vigil in the past, and about the impression you've left on him.”
She paused for a brief moment.
“I think... that's already told me everything I wanted to know.”